Nube de tormenta

Madrid VII

2012-02-12T04:15:00.001-08:00

El Capricho, March 2008. Taken by Luna Moon.

Madrid VI

2012-02-04T01:42:00.001-08:00

El Capricho, March 2008. Taken by Luna Moon.

In My Wardrobe I

2012-01-22T00:16:00.001-08:00

This will soon be in my wardrobe, a beautiful dress by Isabel Morgado. Once again, the Frida Kahlo inspiration.

Anaïs Nin IV

2012-01-19T23:14:00.000-08:00

Thorvald does very well in school. He has grown a lot, but he is strong and healthy. Both boys are going to write you this very minute and tell you all they are doing.

Anaïs Nin, March 1919.

Madrid V

2012-01-14T00:10:00.001-08:00

El Capricho, March 2008. Taken by Luna Moon.

Wuthering Heights IV

2011-12-21T07:52:00.000-08:00

'Thrushcross Grange is my own, sir,' he interrupted, wincing, 'I should not allow any one to inconvenience me, if I could hinder it - walk in!'

"Wuthering Heights", Emily Brontë.

Anaïs Nin III

2011-12-17T01:08:00.000-08:00

To begin with, my elementary schooling has come to an end. After passing the examinations that I was so afraid of, I changed schools, and from now on I am called Miss Nin and I am a young lady. The school I go to now is Wadleigh High School. It is a huge brick building with big classrooms and many teachers. We have been given many books and I am starting to study French, science, literature and composition, the inevitable algebra, and other things. No doubt, knowing that I am studying French will please you very much, also knowing that I have a marvelous teacher, Mrs Cavalier, from whom I expect to learn a lot. Even as I write this, I am thinking about my verbs and trying to write them as I should, but please don't smile, Papa, because I know that I still make terrible mistakes.

Anaïs Nin, March 1919.

Madrid IV

2011-12-16T10:54:00.000-08:00

El Capricho, March 2008. Taken by Luna Moon.

Frida I

2011-12-10T01:10:00.001-08:00

Recuerdo - Yo había sonreído. Nada más. Pero la claridad fue en mí, y en lo hondo de mi silencio.
Él me seguía. Como mi sombra, irreprochable y ligera.
En la noche, sollozó un canto...
Los indios se alargaban, sinuosos, por las callejas del pueblo. Iban envueltos en sarapes, a la danza, después de beber mezcal. Un arpa y una jarana eran la música, y la alegría eran las morenas sonrientes.
En el fondo, tras del Zócalo, brillaba el río. Y se iba, como los minutos de mi vida.
Él me seguía.
Yo terminé por llorar. Arrinconada en el atrio de la parroquia, amparada por mi rebozo de bolita, que se empapó de lágrimas.

30 de noviembre de 1922. Frida Kahlo.

La delicadeza I

2011-12-07T09:21:00.000-08:00

Nathalie era más bien discreta (la suya era una feminidad suiza, por así decirlo). Había atravesado la adolescencia sin tropiezos, respetando los pasos de cebra. A los veinte años, el porvenir era para ella una promesa. Le gustaba reír, y también leer. Dos ocupaciones que rara vez podía simultanear. pues prefería las historias tristes. Como, a su juicio, su inclinación literaria no era lo bastante marcada, decidió estudiar Económicas. Pese a su aire soñador, no se identificaba ni con la imprecisión ni con la imperfección. Pasaba horas observando curvas sobre la evolución del PIB en Estonia, con una extraña sonrisa en los labios. Justo cuando la vida adulta se anunciaba ya, a Nathalie empezó a darle por pensar en su infancia. Instantes de felicidad reunidos en unos pocos episodios, siempre los mismos. Corría por una playa, se subía a un avión, dormía en brazos de su padre. Pero no sentía nostalgia ninguna, jamás. Lo cual era bastante extraño, llamándose Nathalie.

(Las Nathalies demuestran una clara tendencia a la nostalgia.)

"La delicadeza", David Foenkinos.

Madrid III

2011-12-07T07:40:00.000-08:00

El Capricho, March 2008. Taken by Luna Moon.

Wuthering Heights III

2011-12-06T01:24:00.000-08:00

'Mr Lockwood, your new tenant, sir - I do myself the honour of calling as soon as possible, after my arrival, to express the hope that I have not inconvenienced you by my perseverance in soliciting the occupation of Thrushcross Grange: I heard, yesterday, you had had some thoughts -'

"Wuthering Heights", Emily Brontë.

Anaïs Nin II

2011-12-04T02:42:00.001-08:00

After lunch we took Joaquinito to the cinema, and the rest of the afternoon I played with my little canary. After dinner I sat down to write, as I do every evening. Frances just called me. We are going out together on Tuesday, which will be a holiday because the 27th Regiment of American soldiers is going to parade on 5th Avenue in front of millions of spectators. She also wants to start a correspondence in verse and that idea strkes me as very amusing. This evening she is going to write to me. I shall let you see my reply.
I notice that it is now on.y 7.15 and I am going to take advantage of the time to write Papa.

"The Early Diary of Anaïs Nin", 1919.

Madrid II

2011-11-24T23:24:00.000-08:00

El Capricho, March 2008. Taken by Luna Moon.

Wuthering Heights II

2011-11-18T10:05:00.000-08:00

'Mr Heathcliff?' I said.
A nod was the answer.

"Wuthering Heihts", Emily Brontë.

Anaïs Nin I

2011-11-13T01:33:00.000-08:00

March, 22. I have just opened a new notebook and made a new friend. I have just closed a notebook which is already full, and here I am face to face with one with blank pages to fill, and I hope with all my heart to be able to write things in it that I shall never be asahmed of. After a few days, dear new notebook, you will know me very well and will become acquainted with my ideas and the meanderings of my mad imagination. I shall try to write faithfully and sincerely every day and will take your place with my other diaries, filed under the same name and written with the same pen, next to the old red notebook that I have just finished. I should begin by telling you the state of things around me today and my occupations. Monsita, who has been sick these last days with a bad cold, got out of bed today for the first time and the house is running smoothly again. The weather today was beautiful; Thorvald and I went to the park and walked in the warm sunshine and talked together for a good fifty minutes.

"The Early Diary of Anaïs Nin", 1919.

Vintage Erotica I

2011-11-09T00:03:00.000-08:00

Wuthering Heights I

2011-11-07T09:09:00.001-08:00

1801 - I have just returned from a visit to my landlord - the solitary neighbour that I shall be troubled with. This is certainly a beautiful country! In all England, I do not believe that I could have fixed on a situation so completely removed from the stir of society. A perfect misanthropist's Heaven - and Mr Heathcliff and I are such a suitable pair to divide the desolation between us. A capital fellow! He little imagined how my heart warmed towards him when I beheld his black eyes withdraw so suspiciously under their brows, as I rode up, and his fingers sheltered themselves, with a jealous resolution, still further in his waistcoat, as I announced my name.

"Wuthering Heights", Emily Brontë.

Exit

2011-04-03T03:37:00.000-07:00

This blog is moving: La Luna Violeta.

Still Howth

2011-03-10T03:14:00.000-08:00

Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Yeats Lived Here

2011-03-09T04:36:00.000-08:00

Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Howth Again, Again, Again

2011-03-07T03:11:00.000-08:00

Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Howth Again & Again

2011-03-04T03:52:00.000-08:00

Howth's sea and ships. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Howth Again

2011-03-02T07:14:00.001-08:00

Boats in Howth, Ireland. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

New Acquisitions

2011-02-28T01:44:00.000-08:00

Newly acquired items in Ireland - a lovely Tesco shopping bag, Victorian boots and a vintage 'Frida Kahlo' dress.

The Seals of Howth

2011-02-25T09:25:00.000-08:00

Friendly seals in Howth. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Last of Bray

2011-02-18T04:35:00.000-08:00

Two last pictures of Bray. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Scaffolding

2011-02-17T06:17:00.000-08:00

Another love poem:

Scaffolding - Seamus Heaney

Masons, when they start upon a building,
Are careful to test out the scaffolding;

Make sure that planks won’t slip at busy points,
Secure all ladders, tighten bolted joints.

And yet all this comes down when the job’s done
Showing off walls of sure and solid stone.

So if, my dear, there sometimes seem to be
Old bridges breaking between you and me

Never fear. We may let the scaffolds fall
Confident that we have built our wall.

Still Bray

2011-02-17T02:08:00.000-08:00

Still Bray on the same Sunday in January. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Yeats

2011-02-16T03:34:00.000-08:00

Another poem read at the Valentine's reading. This time by Yeats.

The Sorrow of Love - Yeats

The quarrel of the sparrows in the eaves,
The full round moon and the star-laden sky,
And the loud song of the ever-singing leaves,
Had hid away earth's old and weary cry.

And then you came with those red mournful lips,
And with you came the whole of the world's tears,
And all the sorrows of her labouring ships,
And all the burden of her myriad years.

And now the sparrows warring in the eaves,
The curd-pale moon, the white stars in the sky,
And the loud chaunting of the unquiet leaves
Are shaken with earth's old and weary cry.

Bray Again

2011-02-16T03:21:00.000-08:00

Bray beach once more. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

A Poetry Reading

2011-02-15T03:43:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, on Valentine's Day, I attended a poetry and prose reading on the theme of love. It was an enjoyable experience. As I did not have a programme, I cannot remember all the poems read. But I want to share one I particularly liked. It is by W.H. Auden called "Lullaby", read by a Scottish author who described it as "downright sexy". And so it is:

W.H. Auden – Lullaby

Lay your sleeping head, my love,
Human on my faithless arm;
Time and fevers burn away
Individual beauty from
Thoughtful children, and the grave
Proves the child ephemeral:
But in my arms till break of day
Let the living creature lie,
Mortal, guilty, but to me
The entirely beautiful.

Soul and body have no bounds:
To lovers as they lie upon
Her tolerant enchanted slope
In their ordinary swoon,
Grave the vision Venus sends
Of supernatural sympathy,
Universal love and hope;
While an abstract insight wakes
Among the glaciers and the rocks
The hermit's carnal ecstasy.

Certainty, fidelity
On the stroke of midnight pass
Like vibrations of a bell,
And fashionable madmen raise
Their pedantic boring cry:
Every farthing of the cost,
All the dreaded cards foretell,
Shall be paid, but from this night
Not a whisper, not a thought,
Not a kiss nor look be lost.

Beauty, midnight, vision dies:
Let the winds of dawn that blow
Softly round your dreaming head
Such a day of welcome show
Eye and knocking heart may bless,
Find the mortal world enough;
Noons of dryness find you fed
By the involuntary powers,
Nights of insult let you pass
Watched by every human love.

Bray Beach

2011-02-15T03:32:00.000-08:00

Bray Beach on a sunny January day. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Shankill Beach

2011-02-14T06:29:00.001-08:00

Grey stones on Shankill Beach. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Shankill

2011-02-07T06:51:00.001-08:00

Petroleum blue sea on the Emerald Island. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Revising

2010-12-01T01:28:00.000-08:00

An old classic with a new cover.

Cathy.

Heathcliff.

Out Of All Places...

2010-11-20T12:12:00.000-08:00

A Woman Empty Inside

2010-11-18T11:40:00.000-08:00

On The Other Hand...

2010-05-20T11:27:00.000-07:00

I found this very cute Robert Smith diary.

So Very Disappointed

2010-05-20T10:37:00.000-07:00

Nina Persson is my favourite singer and The Cardigans my favourite band. Now, as a vegetarian and animal lover, I was so very disappointed by the latest Nina interview I read. I just can't understand cruelty against animals.

Running Water

2010-05-18T22:41:00.000-07:00

French water running in Savoy. Taken by Nube de Tormenta.

A Favourite Series V

2010-05-16T02:18:00.000-07:00

"Rosemary & Thyme" on their first episode, when they just met - "And No Birds Sing".

Wandering

2010-05-15T03:29:00.000-07:00

I was the wanderer this time. Trees near La Chartreause in France. Two hours up the mountain among viciously green trees and maroon grounds. Taken by Nube de Tormenta.

Back Home

2010-05-14T08:23:00.000-07:00

After a week away in France (I'll post the pictures little by little), it's nice to be back home, praising idleness once more. Taken by Nube de Tormenta.

Images of Cambridge

2010-05-02T01:13:00.000-07:00

Images taken in Cambridge in the summer of 2009. Taken by Nube de Tormenta.

Wanderers VI

2010-05-01T11:11:00.001-07:00

Frida Kahlo and André Breton (if I'm not wrong) wandering around the temples of Mexico in "Frida".

The Queen of the House

2010-05-01T06:31:00.000-07:00

The Queen, resting and alert, in her always elegant and seductive way. Taken by Nube de Tormenta.

Sceneries IV

2010-04-30T10:23:00.000-07:00

More melancholicly quiet scenery from the BBC Wallander series. Those valleys of the green and the grey...

Readers X

2010-04-29T12:36:00.000-07:00

Rosemary Boxer reading in "The Italian Rapscallion".

The King of the House

2010-04-28T11:07:00.000-07:00

When the heat comes, the sink is his throne.

In a regal pose, as any king should be.

Taken by surprise, in not such a regal pose. All pictures taken by Nube de Tormenta

Wanderers V

2010-04-27T00:17:00.000-07:00

Wanderers by Lady Desidia - melancholic girls in imaginary woods.

Readers IX

2010-04-26T06:28:00.000-07:00

Long time no see. It was already time for a new readers post. This is a capture of "Bright Star", based on Keats' love story.

Leaves

2010-04-25T01:33:00.000-07:00

Leaves in Spain and in England. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Wanderers IV

2010-04-23T11:51:00.000-07:00

Jane and Lizzy Bennet wander in the garden in "Pride and Prejudice".

A Nice Garden

2010-04-20T22:40:00.000-07:00

Green, green garden in England. Taken by Nube de Tormenta.

A Favourite Series IV

2010-04-18T05:22:00.000-07:00

Mari Carmen Cañizares, my favourite character in "Cámera Café". Nobody like her to combine clothes in a unique stylish way.

Sceneries III

2010-04-16T11:27:00.000-07:00

What I like the most in the BBC version of Swedish Wallander is the landscape. Many will be the screencaps on this blog to illustrate it.

Flowers in Holland Park

2010-04-14T08:45:00.000-07:00

Beautiful summer colours in London. August, 2009. Taken by Nube de Tormenta.

A Favourite Series III

2010-04-13T08:57:00.000-07:00

Rosemary Boxer and Laura Thyme in "The Memory of Water".

A Favourite Series II

2010-04-11T02:18:00.000-07:00

Detective Inspector Laura Lebrel in "El misterio del loro azul".

Sceneries II

2010-04-09T08:23:00.001-07:00

Flowery garden for a little white house.

A Favourite Series

2010-04-07T08:46:00.001-07:00

"Los misterios de Laura" - Laura Lebrel, detective inspector and mother of twins,

Sceneries I

2010-04-06T12:04:00.001-07:00

Sceneries will be about beautiful landscapes and haunting buildings.

Art I

2010-04-05T00:44:00.001-07:00

Greyish blue and mustard yellow, a nice combination in a painting (by whom?).

Readers VIII

2010-04-03T01:10:00.000-07:00

Lizzy and Jane Bennett read a letter, from "Pride & Prejudice", BBC version.

Frida II

2010-04-02T01:58:00.001-07:00

Frida and her little monkeys. Screencap from a documentary on the life and art of Frida Kahlo.

Wanderers III

2010-03-31T13:13:00.000-07:00

Lizzy Bennett wandering around with Mrs Collins in "Pride & Prejudice".

Dressing Up Beautifully II

2010-03-28T23:38:00.000-07:00

The always lovely peasant look. Screencap from "Then She Found Me".

Rock

2010-03-13T03:58:00.000-08:00

In Castilla. Autumn, 2009.

Hugs

2010-02-28T10:32:00.000-08:00

May you hold those you love in your arms long.

The Greens and Creams of Castilla

2010-02-20T23:42:00.000-08:00

Taken by Nube de Tormenta. October, 2009.

Nina II

2010-02-16T00:45:00.000-08:00

Nina, Nina, Ni-na-na...

Happy Valentine's

2010-02-14T01:51:00.000-08:00

A celebration of love with a beautiful love song by my favourite band. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Porcelain of an Aristocrat

2010-02-14T01:32:00.000-08:00

Some porcelain treasures of some Sir Percival Something. To be seen in the British Museum, London. It must be nice to be rich... Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Teatime I

2010-02-08T23:27:00.000-08:00

Cold Comfort Farm

Cabras y monte

2010-02-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

Goats on Asturias mountain. Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Nina I

2010-02-04T06:46:00.000-08:00

Nina & the boys - A Camp.

Cucú

2010-02-03T11:21:00.000-08:00

Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Dressing Up Beautifully I

2010-02-02T22:57:00.000-08:00

Salma Hayek in "Frida".

Wanderers II

2010-02-01T22:51:00.000-08:00

A wanderer by Lady Desidia.

Gardens in Germany

2010-02-01T12:23:00.000-08:00

Frankfurt Gardens.

Readers VII

2010-01-31T03:19:00.000-08:00

"Frida".

Holy Weekend

2010-01-30T05:47:00.000-08:00

Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Readers VI

2010-01-29T06:11:00.000-08:00

"Frida"

Ratoncito Pérez

2010-01-28T10:11:00.000-08:00

Taken by Nube de tormenta.

A Favourite Movie

2010-01-27T09:14:00.000-08:00

Scenes from "Map of the Sounds of Tokyo".

Illano on Christmas Eve

2010-01-25T23:55:00.000-08:00

Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Wanderers I

2010-01-25T08:08:00.000-08:00

Patitos al agua

2010-01-24T22:51:00.000-08:00

Taken by Nube de tormenta.

The Real Frida

2010-01-24T02:02:00.000-08:00

and the fictional Frida.

Together All The Way

2010-01-23T11:11:00.000-08:00

Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Readers V

2010-01-21T22:00:00.000-08:00

Leaves of Gold

2010-01-21T10:58:00.000-08:00

Taken by Nube de tormenta.

Readers IV

2010-01-20T14:00:00.000-08:00

"El laberinto del Fauno".

Mexican Revolution

2010-01-19T00:00:00.000-08:00

Prints on the Mexican Revolution at the British Museum, London.

Frida & Diego

2010-01-18T10:07:00.000-08:00

Or Salma & Alfred.

A Sunday of Relax

2010-01-17T13:38:00.000-08:00

A nice walk in the rain, delicious curry for lunch and an afternoon of sweet company.

Readers III

2010-01-16T15:17:00.000-08:00

Northanger Abbey.

Readers II

2010-01-15T15:10:00.000-08:00

Around

2010-01-14T22:20:00.000-08:00

Asturias, December 2009.